The vote on S. 47, a strong, bipartisan bill – with 62 sponsors – that would reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Michael Crapo (R-ID) was delayed on Thursday and is expected to be voted on early next week, probably Monday (Feb. 11) early evening.

However, a harmful substitute bill proposed by Senator Grassley, that was similar to the flawed House bill of the 112th Congress, was defeated on Thursday 65-34. All of VAWA’s sponsors except Heller R-NV voted against the harmful Grassley “substitute.” Good work everyone.

S. 47 is very similar to the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Leahy and Crapo last Congress and would improve VAWA programs and strengthen protections for all victims of violence (see description of legislation below for an explanation of some of the changes).

In anticipation of the impending vote, we need you to take action TODAY and MONDAY by contacting your Senators to thank them for co-sponsoring the Senate VAWA and for voting against the Grassley substitute (all except Senator Heller, who voted yes on the substitute bill).

Ask all of them to vote against any further weakening or non-germane amendments! (A list of sponsoring Senators and Senators who might be persuaded to support a final VAWA is at the end of this email.)

ACTION ITEM: CALL YOUR SENATOR(s) TODAY (2/8) AND MONDAY (2/11) !!!

Call your Senators NOW at 202.224.3121 & urge Patrick Toomey to vote for YES #VAWA (S. 47)! It takes 2 minutes.Share your name, address or state, phone number and state your support of VAWA!